The Social Media Summit for Government, held in Johannesburg, highlighted the increasing role of artificial intelligence in improving citizen engagement. Discussions centered on AI’s capacity to analyze public sentiment and identify emerging issues, effectively “reading the signal” from citizens. However, a key takeaway emphasized that despite AI's analytical power, human accountability remains paramount. The summit underscored that AI should serve as a tool to *enhance*, not replace, human judgment in government communication and decision-making. Maintaining public trust necessitates transparent processes and clear responsibility for actions taken based on AI-driven insights. Successfully integrating AI requires a balance between technological advancement and upholding ethical standards and human oversight. Ultimately, the focus is on leveraging AI to better understand and respond to citizens while ensuring responsible governance.